A South African who won the chance to be the first black
African in space has died in a motorbike accident before turning his dream into
reality.
Mandla Maseko, 30, was killed on Saturday, a family
statement says.
"Maseko - popularly known as Spaceboy and Afronaut -
beat 1 million people to become one of 23 people who won a seat sponsored by
the Axe Apollo Space Academy on an hour-long suborbital trip in 2014," the
family said in a statement on Sunday.
However, the trip had not yet happened at the time of his
death, according to media reports.
"Maseko, 30, a Soshanguve native, went on to train as
a private pilot and became a corporal in the South African National Defence
Force [SANDF]," the family statement said.
"As a public speaker and community worker, Maseko
worked to inspire many African children to pursue careers in science. His
community work saw him join the Corsa Utility Club Mzansi. [He was] an avid
biker with the Tshwane Legend Bikers."
In 2016 he was honored by the Gauteng Education Department
and had the science building at the Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation
named after him.
"Maseko will be solely missed. May Mandla Maseko’s
kind and beautiful soul rest In eternal peace," the family statement said.
Details of his memorial service and funeral would be
announced during the course of this week.
African News Agency
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